A new frontier play concept is being tested in Suriname’s deepwater as TotalEnergies and Shell explore the potential of Aptian-age carbonates on the Demerara Plateau.
According to a November 11 report from global energy magazine GeoExPRO, the Macaw-1 well in Block 58, operated by TotalEnergies, and Shell’s Araku Deep-1 well are drilling into an unproven carbonate play that could redefine exploration in the region. Aptian carbonates are ancient limestone rock layers formed about 120 million years ago in warm, shallow seas.
The campaign seeks to confirm a northern migration pathway from the main hydrocarbon kitchen, which, if successful, could unlock “a whole new region to explore”. GeoExPRO described the move as “a daring” step into a frontier where the geology remains largely untested.
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While Suriname’s offshore success to date has been driven by discoveries in Campanian and Santonian sandstones, this deepwater initiative represents a shift toward the Lower Cretaceous, where previous drilling – such as APA’s 2020 Keskesi East-1 discovery – proved hydrocarbons exist at depth.
The Demerara carbonate targets are described as deep and technically challenging, but GeoExPRO said the Demerara carbonate play is a major new play test.
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Suriname has positioned itself as an emerging oil hotspot, following significant discoveries by TotalEnergies and APA Corporation in neighboring blocks.
